Fish lure



J ly 1951 J. D. OVERTON 0 FISH LURE Filed June 25, 1948 INVENTOK (/07; -77 .D. OVQY'ZO 77 A r rah/v.5 Y8

Patented July 24, 1951 {L UNITED STATES v OFFICE.

FISH LURE i John D. Overton, Arsenal, Ark. Application June 25, 1948, Serial No. 35,136

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a fish lure.

An object of the invention is to provide a fish lure which is capable of traveling through the water either at or below the surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fish lure that can be adjusted to cause the lure to travel at various levels below the surface of the water.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fish lure which is simple in structure, easy to manipulate and highly efficient in action.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the fish lure according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the spoon;

Figure 5 is an enlarged top plan view, sectional in part, of one of the notched bars;

Figure 6 is a front end elevational View of the fish lure shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the fish lure of the present invention broadly comprises a plug It) provided with a screw eye H at its forward end for attachment to a fish line and ascrew eye l8 at its rearward end to which is attached a fish hook I2. Dependingly supported by the plug II], as by a screw eye 20, is a fish hook I2. Positioned adjacent the forward end of the plug Ill and mounted on said plug for arcuate movement about a horizontal axis is a spoon l5.

Extending transversely through the plug I 0 intermediate its ends is a headed bolt 22 having a threaded end 23. Arranged on each side of theplug and pivotally connected to the bolt 22 are straps I 3 and I4 having openings 3 and 4, respectively, for rotatably receiving the bolt 22 therein. The straps l3 and 14, which carry the spoon [5, are preferably made of a flat strip of aluminum. A nut 24 is threaded on the threaded end 23 of the bolt for locking the straps on the bolt. Arranged on the bolt 22 between each of the straps l3 and I4 and the plug I0 is a washer 25. Positioned intermediate the ends of the strap I 3 and secured to the inner face thereof is a cylindrical detent 2E, and arranged intermediate the ends of the strap [4 and secured to the inner face thereof is a cylindrical detent 21. The detents 26 and 21 are arranged in opposed aligned relation with respect to each other. It is to be noted that the straps l3 and I4 are positioned at an angle with respect to the spoon l5.

A bar l6 provided with a plurality of circular recesses 28 arranged in spaced relation therealong has an end 9 secured to one side of the plug l0 adjacent the forward end of the latter.

A bar I! likewise provided with a plurality of circular recesses 30 arranged in spaced relation therealong has an end 8 secured by means of screws 29 to the other side of the plug Ill adjacent the forward end of the latter, the bars I 6 and I 1 extending rearwardly between the respective straps and the plug. The notched bars are fabricated of a resilient material, preferably spring steel.

In the use of the improved fish lure, the plug I 0 is drawn through the water by means of a, fish line attached to the screw eye II. The plug I0 may be maintained at any desired depth in the water, or may even be adjusted to ride upon the surface of the water, by adjusting the angular position of the spoon IS with respect to the plug Ill. Thus, to adjust the spoon l 5, the user moves the resilient notched bars l6 and I1 toward the plug ll] so that the straps l3 and I4 carrying the spoon 15 may be pivoted about the bolt 22. The spoon in its adjusted position is releasably locked in such position by means of the detents 26 and 21 of the straps l3 and M, respectively, engaging the adjacent one of the notches 2B and 30 of the bars I6 and I1. adjusting the spoon l5 upwardly or downwardly about its pivot or bolt 22, the lure may be caused to travel either on the surface of the water or at different levels below the surface.

It is believed that the details of construction, manner of use and advantages of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation. It is to be understood, however, that even though I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, the same is susceptible of certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described, and the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a fish lure including a plug adapted to be towed through water by a fish line, and a plurality of fish hooks carried by said plug, the improvement consisting of mounting means on said plug for arcuate movement about a horizontal axis to thereby control the level of travel of said plug through the water, said means comprising straps positioned on each side of said plug ad- In other words, by

jacent the forward end of the latter, said straps having one end connected to said plug and mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a spoon arranged on the forward portion of said plug and secured to the other 5 end of said straps, means for releasably locking said spoon in its pivoted positions, said lastnamed means comprising a detent secured'to the inner face of each of saidstraps and a bar interposed between. each: of saicu straps and. the adjacent side of the plug, there being a plurality of spaced recesses in each of said bars for re,

ceiving said detents.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 956,872 Alger May 3, 1910 1,220,921 Wilson Mar. 2'7, 1917 1,232,211 Burkman -1 July 3, 1917 1,466,601 Sanders Aug. 28, 1923 1,548,238 Adams Aug. 4, 1925 2,235,331 Pugh Mar. 8, 1941 JOHN D. OVERTQNL lull 

